That light went to the master bedroom, as shown below with one photo taken in daylight and the other at night...

The second light went to the southeast corner of the Blowfish Bar, but there was an aesthetic problem with the draped cord, as the light had been made for hanging where the cord wouldn’t be seen, such as under a fishnet canopy...

Well, there are always things to share. Pat and I just had a big party at the Blowfish Bar in honor of the Hawaiian Inn Polynesian show cast and their families from Daytona Beach, Florida. In planning this, we wanted to do something a bit different than Luau fare and Polynesian music, as that is what those folks do all the time. So we decided on Cajun food and a live Caribbean steel drum band for entertainment. Here’s the party invitation…

We served rum cocktails using the recipes in Beachbum Berry Remixed. Here were the featured drinks…

The Planter’s Punch was Stephen Remsberg’s recipe on page 212 of Remixed… that is a really good cocktail.

We had beautiful weather the day of the party… moderate temperatures in the 70s, very slight breeze, and mostly clear skies, although fog rolled in off the ocean and made it look like a scene out of “Brigadoon” until near sunset, when it finally cleared. Nani Maka and Randy Avon, both from Fort Lauderdale, arrived in the morning, having overnighted it at a nearby motel. Randy made us Bloody Marys for breakfast using his original recipe, and Nani snapped this photo of me near our mural…

Photo credit: Nani Maka Maloney

The photos of the party that follow were made by our guests, as I was too busy enjoying everyone and everything.

Mark Woods, our bartender, arrived early to start preparing for the onslaught of approximately 60 guests…

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

He was later joined by his lovely assistant, Shelly Britt…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

As guests arrived, folks migrated just outside the bar to the deck of our beach house… On the left you can see the corner of a large dining tent I had set up at ground level…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

View of beach house looking south…

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

The Caribbean Crew Steel Drum Band from Orlando set up near the base of our deck spiral stairway. The crowd loved them as they played a variety of traditional reggae, calypso and soca, as well as special requests. Here are (left to right) Ritchie, Ronny and Trevor setting up to play…

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

In the next two photos are Wailana McFall and her daughter, Tiana. Wailana is the executive hula girl of the Hawaiian Inn Polynesian show and Taina recently joined as a performer. Here they are, two Polynesian dancers, dancing to a Caribbean beat…

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

The expressive Tikis along the fence were brought by Ed Volonnino of Ed’s Heads in Melbourne, Florida. Ed and the late Wayne Coombs of Mai Tiki in Cocoa Beach were, in their youth, very unfriendly competitors. As they aged and mellowed, both became good friends and frequently spent time together discussing life, the universe and everything. Here is Ed at the party, with two of his other Heads…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

Here is Ed’s lovely wife, Christina…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

Pat and I made Ahi Poke (marinated sashimi-grade tuna) as an appetizer for the party… it was a big hit. The Hawaiians present claimed it was better than the “locals” made, but they were likely just being overly gracious in their compliments…

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

Here’s Pat, hostess of the party…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

And here I am with the renowned TikiHardBop (George Jenkins)…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

The DeTiki family of Justin and Sarah (Tiki-Troll) Tanner and son, Hank, from Ormond Beach are ascending the spiral stairway to the deck…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

In this photo are Kim Barkman (left) and Phillip and Ann Haire…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

Bobby Avon, son of Randy Avon and grandson of Pualani Mossman Avon, on left, chatting with Phillip Haire…

Ed Volonnino brought along a Tiki chess game he acquired from the estate of Wayne Coombs. The chess pieces were carved by Crazy Al.

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

Photo credit: Christina Jordan

Photo credit: Christina Jordan

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

Tamara Hollingsworth, Tiki Mike’s wife…

Photo credit: Tiki Mike

Photo credit: Tiki Mike

In the next photo, Tamara and Wailana are standing in our remodeled guest bathroom. Note that the mirror frame on the left above the sink was carved by Bosko Hrnjak…

Photo credit: Tiki Mike

Shelf for Tiki mugs above bathroom cabinet…

Photo credit: Tiki Mike

Apologies to TornadoTiki (Chris Kridler) for the posterior view (blame it on Tiki Mike)…

Photo credit: Tiki Mike

Randy Avon is on the right…

Photo credit: Christina Jordan

Note Wendy mugs on the bar shelves…

Photo credit: Christina Jordan

Photo credit: Christina Jordan

Photo credit: Christina Jordan

Meanwhile, back on the deck…

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

Photo credit: Vicki Owens

Our son, Tommy, participating in the limbo contest…

Photo credit: Chris Kridler / ChrisKridler.com

Two former performers of the Yankee Clipper Polynesian Room were reunited at the party, Prince Faalia on the left with a ukulele instead of the Samoan knives he used to perform with, and the still gorgeous Nani Maka Maloney on the right…

Photo credit: Nani Maka Maloney

Sunset reflected in the sky over the Atlantic Ocean, as viewed from the beach house deck…

Tom, the pad really looks great and the party looks like it was a fantastic success. I hope all is well with you and your family.
_________________"Anyone who has ever seen them is thereafter haunted as if by a feverish dream" Karl Woermann

Jon, Wendy, Destro100 and Trav, greatly appreciate you visiting the thread and posting comments. Trav, all is well with us… hope the same is true for you! You must be really enjoying that basement bar of yours right now, given the Midwestern winter under way.

Our friends in Tiki, DeTiki and Tiki-Troll, allowed me to purchase one of the pair of freestanding Tikis they acquired from the closing sale of Julian’s Dining Room & Lounge in Ormond Beach, Florida… reference this Tiki Central thread. The one I acquired formerly welcomed customers as they checked in at the hostess station prior to being seated for cocktails and dinner…

In its new home at the Blowfish Bar, it occupies a place of honor in front of the mural inspired by Julian’s, where it may continue to welcome guests…